Job 13:20

“Only do not two [things] unto me, etc.] This is an address not to Zophar as in the place of God, as to me, but to God himself; by this it appears, that though in modesty he does not mention him, yet he it is he has the chief, if not the sole regard unto in (<181319>Job 13:19); for his desire was to speak to the Almighty, and reason with God, and have nothing more to do with his friends, (<181303>Job 13:3-5); but before any pleadings begin on either side, he is desirous of settling and fixing the terms and conditions of the dispute; he requests that two things might be granted him, which are mentioned in (<181321>Job 13:21): then will I not hide myself from thee; through fear or shame, but…”

“Address to God. not hide--stand forth boldly to maintain my cause.”

“Only do not two - things “unto me.” The two things which are specified in the following verse. This is an address to God as Job argues his cause before him, and the request is, that he would remove every obstacle to his presenting his cause in the most favorable manner, and so that he may be on equal terms with him. See the notes at Job 9:34-35. He was ready to present his cause, and to plead before God, as Job 13:18 he had the utmost confidence that he would be able so to present it as to vindicate himself; and he asks of God that he would withdraw his hand for a time Job 13:21 and not terrify him Job 13:21, so that he could present his case with the full vigor of his mind and body, and so…”

“13:20-21 Job had contemplated finding an arbiter to remove God’s heavy hand (9:33-34). Eliphaz had urged Job to accept God’s chastening (5:17).”

“do not two: Job 9:34, Job 9:35 hide myself: Gen 3:8-10; Psa 139:12; Rev 6:15, Rev 6:16 Job 13:21”

“20 Only two things do not unto me, Then will I not hide myself from Thy countenance: 21 Withdraw Thy hand from me, And let Thy fear not terrify me - 22 Call then and I will answer, Or I will speak and answer Thou me! He makes only two conditions in his prayer, as he has already expressed it in Job 9:34 : (1) That God would grant him a cessation of his troubles; (2) That He would not overwhelm him with His majesty. The chastening hand of God is generally called יד elsewhere; but in spite of this prevalent usage of the language, כּף cannot be understood here (comp. on the contrary Job 33:7) otherwise than of the hand ( Job 9:34 : the rod) of God, which lies heavily on Job. The painful pressure…”